High up on the steep mountain, at the top of a winding cobbled path, somewhere between earth and heaven, stands the despotic frame of the Holy Monastery of Simonos Petra. Perched on a titanic bolder, with terraced vegetable gardens at it’s feet, it is an impossible feat of ancient engineering. Seven storeys high, austere and awe inspiring, it is the iconic image of Mount Athos, the most magnificent remnant of the Byzantine empire.
The symantron sounds at 5 o’clock in the morning, which is 9 o’clock monastic time, an invitation to monks and guests alike to the central church for the daily service. By the time the service has concluded it is lunch time and the monks walk the short distance to the refectory. The lunch is taken in silence, under the gaze of the murals on the walls of the refectory. Only the reader is heard reciting the day’s lesson from the scriptures. Meat is never served and fasting days are Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
And so the story goes… Pater Simon was a hermit living his meager existence in a small cave near by. Passing his days in prayer and contemplation, his only company being the birds and wild animals, his garden the thick mountain forest.
On Christmas night he glanced over the cragged landscape and saw a flickering light on top of a bolder. In the darkness he heard a voice, instructing him to build a great monastery right on top of the bolder where the light was shining. Pater Simon was shaken. It was the voice of the Virgin Mary. The task the Virgin Mary has set him seemed impossible for a poor hermit to attempt. To construct a monastery in the wilderness, on top of the bolder would certainly be a miracle and Pater Simon did not feel able to carry out the task.
Perhaps it was just a dream, perhaps he imagined things, so he did nothing for a while. Then another night he saw the light again. Then the voice of Virgin Mary resounded again. “Build me a monastery where the light is showing and the name of that monastery to be The New Bethlehem. Have faith.” Then the third time the voice was more forceful and Pater Simon felt he had to act on it. He started the impossible sacred task, building the monastery, not knowing if he could ever finish. It was the year 1257.
It was difficult for Pater Simon to find masons brave enough to undertake the seemingly impossible feat, but eventually he did. Despite their skepticism the masons started work. On the very first day, a young monk was serving the workers with food and wine, as it is the custom on Mount Athos, when suddenly he slipped and fell down the steep ravine, still holding the wine pitcher and the cup. The masons were shocked. Was it a sign? Is the task they have undertaken a folly that will end in death for them? Then, the miracle happened. The young monk appeared from the edge of the precipice, unharmed, safe and well, still holding the wine pitcher and the cup. Not a drop of wine was spilled. The masons were moved by the miracle and their hearts filled with confidence that for sure they were doing the work of Virgin Mary.
It took years but with the help of Virgin Mary the imposing monastery was build and it was named The New Bethlehem. Latter it was named Simonos Petra, the rock of Simon, in honor of it’s founder. It celebrates on the day Jesus was born, the 25th of December by the Mount Athos (Julian) calendar which falls on the 7th of January by our calendar (Gregorian).
For his faith and fortitude Simon was canonised and became Osios Simon. The monastery he founded was subsequently burned down and was rebuilt three times over the centuries, but it is still as magnificent as Osios Simon has imagined it.
A visitor may admire not only the impossible architecture but also the murals in the church and the refectory. A short walk from the monastery is the cave of Osios Simon where one can light a candle. The peacefulness of nature and the endless views over the bay are most conducive to prayer and contemplation.
The steep winding path from the jetty of Simonos Petra, although idyllic, can be difficult for somebody older or infirm. It is better if you stop at the port of Daphni where a minibus is sent by the monks of Simonos Petra to pick up the faithful. The short drive reveals the most magnificent views of the monastery of Simonos Petra and the mountain of Athos. When leaving, the descend is much easier and one can take the boat back to Ouranoupolis.
Simonos Petra is blessed with many chapels. The main church, the Catholicon, is dedicated to the Nativity of Jesus and celebrates on the 7th of January.
The monastery is also blessed with a number of relics and treasures. They include one of the fragments of the true cross, parts of the hand of St Mary Magdalene, St Barbara and St Eudokia. Also the sculls of St Paul the Confessor and that of Patriarch Modestus. The foot of St Kyriakos and St Sergious and bones belonging to John the Baptist, St Panteleimon, St Tryphon and a number of other saints. The relics are presented to pilgrims so they can pay their respects and receive their blessing.
